London [UK], Sep 7 : England won the toss and asked the Indian side to bowl first in the fifth Test of the ongoing five-match series at Oval Cricket Ground.
Following the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who had lost the toss for the fifth consecutive time in the series, said, ” I think I need a coin with two heads; that’s the only way I can win a toss.”
He further stated that on this pitch, there is more grass than Southampton and batting would be difficult in the first session.
England captain Joe Root, on the other hand, said that the pitch looks similar to that of Southampton, adding that pitches have been difficult to read this summer.
Reflecting on the team, Kohli confirmed that Hanuma Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja have replaced Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin in the team.
For England, Root revealed that they would be going ahead with the same squad as in the fourth Test.
Having lost the series, India will look to end their two-month long tour to England on a high note by registering a win in the fifth Test.
The two squads are as follows:
India playing XI- Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant (wk).
England playing XI- Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (C), Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
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